Interactive system using tags

ABSTRACT

An interactive system in which information read from two or more tags ( 10, 12  or  10, 12′ ) jointly determines a process to be carried out. One of the tags may identify a user by for example his/her store loyalty card number or by a personal identifying tag (or card) in a cordless RF terminal and the other of the tags may be a RF-ID tag storing details of an action to be performed such as the number of credit points to be given to the loyalty card in response to a transaction or provide promotional information to the user. The process may comprise issuing a command to an action server ( 28, 30 ) to provide, or instruct the sending of, output information to a user, by for example over a radio link to a cellular telephone apparatus ( 18, 34, 36 ) or PDA, or displayed to the user on a video display unit ( 38 ).

The present application claims the benefit of International ApplicationNo. PCT/IB03/00432 entitled “Interactive System Using Tags” filed Feb.3, 2003 which claims the benefit of International Application No.PCT/IB2003/000432 entitled “Interactive System Using Tags” filed Feb.28, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an interactive system which makes useof tags, particularly but not exclusively tags which can be read in anon-contact manner, for example by radio.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

RF identification technology is well known as a means of identifyingpersons or objects carrying radio tags over a short distance oftypically 1 m or so, without physical contact. Applications of thistechnology include the tagging of animals, such as pet dogs, cattle andsheep, identifying the location of people in potentially hazardousareas, such as offshore drilling platforms, and the tracking of goods inretail and logistic situations. They form a basic mechanism for a veryconvenient form of interaction between a system and people or devices.

PCT Patent Specification WO97/06479 discloses a computerised interactorsystem which comprises means defining a detection space, a plurality ofphysical interactors which can be manually placed at desired positionswithin the detection space or removed from the detection space toprovide a plurality of selectable and changeable arrangements of theinteractors at the plurality of positions of the detection space. Aninterface responsive to an interactor is provided in the detection spaceand is operative to provide an interactor signal indicative of theidentity and status of the interactor. A computer system is coupled tothe interface and is operative to process the interactor signal tocreate a control input that is indicative of the identity and status ofthe interactor within a predetermined semantic framework. An applicationsystem is coupled to the computer system and is responsive to thecontrol input. The disclosed interactor system depends on the spacialpositioning of the interactors in the detection space in order togenerate the interactive signal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an interactive systemwhich is flexible to operate and does not rely on the spatialpositioning of interactors.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod of operating an interactive system, comprising obtaining within aspecified time period first information from a first tag and secondinformation from a second tag, and using the first and secondinformation to jointly determine a process to be carried out.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is providedan interactive system in which information read within a specified timeperiod from at least two tags jointly determine a process to be carriedout.

An embodiment of the interactive system comprises tag reading means forreading at least a first and a second tag within a specified timeperiod, the first tag containing first information and the second tagcontaining second information which may be less secure than the firstinformation, the tag reading means using the first and secondinformation jointly to determine a process to be carried out.

An action server responsive to the determined process, which may be theissuing of a command, generates an output signal containing informationuseful to a user. The output signal may be an SMS message or a voicemail message which is received by a cellular telephone or an e-mailmessage sent over a cellular telephone network to a cordless terminalsuch as a WAP phone or a laptop computer including a modem and radiotransceiver.

The tag reading means may be able to read two or more tags presentedsubstantially simultaneously to it. Thus a user carrying the tags doesnot of necessity have to present them separately to an in-range tagreading means or even remove the tags from his/her pocket or bag,subject to their being interrogatable. In some applications the tagreading means may comprise respective transponders for reading two typesof tags, for example one tag may be incorporated in a Bluetooth, RTM,terminal which provides identifying information and a second tag may bea RF-ID card storing an action. Outputs from the transponders arecombined in the tag reading means which determines the process to becarried out by an action server.

The first information may be a street address, communication address(such as phone number or an e-mail/internet address), set ofaffiliations or preferences (or pointers to such) and/or otherinformation which is personal to the user whereas the second informationmay be an action instruction, data on a product or service, a uniquepointer, for example URL, to information on products or services heldremotely.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided atag for use in the interactive system according to the second aspect ofthe present invention, comprising means for storing information having adata format which is associated with a predetermined application andmeans for interacting with a tag reader for enabling the information tobe read.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provideda method comprising generating a service request in response todetermining a process to be carried out, forwarding the service requestto a client and the client remunerating a supplier of the servicerequests on the basis of the service request(s) forwarded.

For a particular range of applications a suitable set of types of taginformation and corresponding data formats has to be established, andaction-setting procedures configured to achieve the desired effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an embodiment of an interactivesystem made in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive system made in accordance with the present invention

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the method inaccordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 4 is a block schematic diagram showing an application of theinteractive system made in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawings the same reference numerals have been used to indicatecorresponding features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the interactive system operates on the basis of atleast two tags 10, 12 or 10, 12′ being read within a predetermined timeperiod by a tag reader 14 and the information read-out being supplied toa service request handler 16. The service request handler analyses thedata from the tags 10, 12 (or 12′) together with the identity of the tagreader, authenticates any confidential part of it and simultaneouslyjointly determines a process to be carried-out. The process may be theissuing of a command, for example, an instruction to supply certaininformation or carry out an operation. The command is forwarded to aprocessor 28 which uses information in a data base 30 to respond to thecommand. The response is for example relayed over-the-air to a suitableend user means, represented for convenience in FIG. 1 as a cellulartelephone 18, but it could be a PDA or other suitable means, or anaction is taken such as crediting/debiting the number of units stored onone of the tags or in the data base 30. A user of the cellular telephone18 may receive the answer as a text message which can be displayed on aLCD panel 20 or as a voice mail message which is heard by way of thetelephone's loudspeaker 22, but also could comprise a WML (WAP mark-uplanguage) card displayed over WAP, a segment of audio or videoinformation streamed wirelessly over GPRS or WLAN (for example IEEE802.11 or Bluetooth, Registered Trade Mark, (RTM)) networks to theuser's PDA or cordless/cellular telephone. It is not essential for theresponse to be relayed over-the-air, it may simply be displayed to theuser on a conveniently located audio or video display unit or may beused for updating information in a data base.

The tags may not all operate in accordance with the same protocols, forexample either one of the tags could be a unique RF device operating inaccordance with a known protocol such as Bluetooth(RTM), Zigbee or IEEE802.11).

More particularly, the tags 10, 12 (or 12′) are radio frequency tagswhich are interrogated using radio frequency signals transmitted byantennas 24 of the tag reader 14 as the tags are passed substantiallysimultaneously or in rapid succession between them. These antennas alsoreceive signals transmitted by the tags 10, 12 (or 12′). In a variant ofthe tag reader 14 suitable for tags of different types, there is atransponder for each type of tag.

In the illustrated example the first tag 10 generally containsrelatively secure information such as the cellular telephone number or aSMS (short message service) of the user or WML (WAP) reference to it.The first tag 10, such as SIM card or something similar, may be providedby the network operator as part of the service in expectation ofadditional phone traffic over the network. The second tag 12 (or 12′),which may be provided by a different organisation, may contain lesssecure information such as that relating to an action such as “Supplydetails of special offers, such as half price cakes, available in astore”. The combination of the information on tags 10 and 12 (or 12′)jointly determine a command to be carried out. An example of a commandto be carried-out is “Supply details of special offers, such as halfprice cakes, available in a store to Mr Z at cellular telephoneNo.xxxxxxxxx”. These details could be supplied as a personalised messageto the user via a video display unit (VDU) 38 located in the vicinity ofthe tag reader or sent by way of the cellular telephone network as a SMSmessage, voice mail message or an e-mail message. However the second tag12 (or 12′) may contain one or more actions conditional on different tagconjunctions, that is different actions may be related to differentclasses of users. For example a person presenting to a tag reader 14 anairline executive club membership tag including an indication of theiridentity and class of membership and an airline executive club tagrequesting information about what services are available at that airportto different classes of membership, will be informed of the servicesbeing offered to a person having their class of membership.

In a variant of the above example the first tag 10 contains a referenceindicating that a customer is a regular/gold customer and the second tag12 relates to showing the price of a product. When both tags are readthe processor 28 notes the status of the customer and provides theproduct price discounted by say 20%.

In another variant, a tag reader located at the main exit of a site orbuilding may detect a first tag identifying a user and a second tagfitted in a lap top computer carried by the user and effect the processof updating information held in a data base to indicate that the userhas taken the lap top computer through the main exit.

In the illustrated embodiment the combination of the information on tags10 and 12, as well as other tags (not shown), is relayed to and storedin locations 26A, 26B . . . 26 n of a store contained within a tagreader of the service request handler 16. An output of the store 26 iscoupled to an action server comprising a processor 28 having a data base30 containing information which can be used in authenticating a tag andin providing a response to a process signal or command received from thetag reader 14. A timer 32 which is usable in determining a time windowfor the reading of tags 10 and 12 is coupled to the processor 28. Atelephone dialler 34 is coupled to the processor 28 to enable an outputsignal to be supplied to a cellular telephone network 36. In a variantof the described illustrated example the tag may include the user's(WLAN) IP address, so that the connection is made over the IEEE 802.11or Bluetooth(RTM), network rather than by a cellular phone network. In afurther variant the output signal is supplied to the VDU 38.

In operation at least two tags 10, 12 (or 12′) are presentedsubstantially simultaneously or in rapid succession to the tag reader14. The tags represent different types such as the action to beperformed, the object on which an action is to be performed and the datawhich is to be called up. When read by the tag reader 14 they jointlydetermine the command to be carried out. The data formats used inencoding of the different types of information may be the same ordifferent. If it is the same then the data format of the encoding mayinclude a field comprising bits identifying the type of information.Thus if the tag reader detects a tag having action information before atag having information identifying a user, it is able to link the twopieces of information to form a command without the respective taginformation having to be presented in a predetermined order. It is alsopossible for a process to be set-up in response to detecting a certainconjunction of tags but only being put into effect when a tag of acertain type is presented to the tag reader. The time period duringwhich the tags have to be presented is determined by the instant atwhich the final tag of the conjunction of tags is presented.

Referring to FIG. 2, the illustrated interactive system comprises a tagreader 14 constructed to read tags 10, 12 from two differentorganizations. The tag 10 in this example comprises a tag built into orforming a part of a cordless terminal operating according to a suitableprotocol, such as Bluetooth(RTM), or Zigbee, and in response to beinterrogated by a radio signal causes to be generated a unique wirelessidentification signal. This identification is detected by a compatibletransponder 72, for example a Bluetooth(RTM), transponder or a Zigbeetransponder, and relayed to a buffer store in a service request handler16.

The tag 12 in this example is a RF-ID tag provided by say a retail storeand this is interrogated by a RF-ID transponder 74 in the tag reader 14to provide an action signal. The service request handler 16 combines theidentification and action signals and derives from them a process signalwhich is passed to an action server (not shown) formed by the processor28 (FIG. 1) and its associated data base 30 (FIG. 1).

The tag reader 14 may be adapted to read other types of coded tags, forexample infra-red (IR) bar code tags, other types of RF-ID devices, ameta data identifier of an audio/video digital stream and an IP addressdevice. Additionally the tags may be writable-on so that informationstored on the tags may be updated.

Referring to FIG. 3 the flow chart summarises the information retrievalprocess in the case of using two tags but this is not limiting becausemore than two tags may be read within a permitted time window.

The flow chart commences with the start block 40 and proceeds to block42 denoting reading and storing the information on the first tag 10 tobe read. Block 44 denotes checking if the time window has elapsed. If ithas (Y) the flow chart reverts to the start block 40. If it has not (N),the flow chart proceeds to block 46 which denotes reading and storingthe data on the second tag 12 to be read. Block 48 denotes checking ifthe time window has elapsed. If it has (Y) the flow chart reverts to thestart block 40. If it has not (N), the flow chart proceeds to block 50which denotes the time window having expired and the processor 28evaluating the joint information from the tags 10 and 12. Block 52denotes the processor 28 authenticating the data, especially the user'saddress on the tag 10. Block 54 denotes the processor 28 carrying-outthe command to be performed which may comprise reading out selected datafrom the data base 30. Block 56 denotes the processor 28 formulating anoutgoing message in a format suitable for transmission for example as atext message, voice mail message or e-mail message or for display on aVDU. Block 58 denotes the telephone dialler 34 dialling the user'snumber and block 60 denotes despatching the text, voice mail or e-mailmessage. Block 62 indicates the option of displaying the data on aconveniently positioned VDU 38 (FIG. 1).

In a first example a user presents his personal tag and a tag asking forinformation about wine to the appropriate card reader and the processorusing the joint information determines from the data base that the useris a regular customer and normally buys red wine. In response to thisthe data base calls up data relating to advertising and/or any specialoffers relating to red wine and relays this information to the user'sterminal via a radio link or, optionally, displays the information onthe VDU 38.

In a second example a user visits a theme park having several rideswhich normally require participants to wait in queues. Additionallythere is a provision for giving priority (or accelerated) access topeople paying extra for their rides. On entering the theme park the userbuys an admission ticket (say tag 10), the price of which is related towhether or not the user wants priority (accelerated) access to the ride.It will be assumed that the user has selected priority access.Additionally the user collects tags (say tags 12) relating to enquiringwhat the current waiting time is for priority access to the respectiverides. Whenever the user wants to check-up on the priority waiting timefor a particular ride, he presents his admission ticket (tag 10),together with a relevant tag 12, to a tag reader and is informed of thecurrent waiting time by a message displayed on the VDU 38, thisinformation having been held in the data base 30 and being updatedregularly. On leaving the ride or the theme park the user candiscard/return the tags relating to waiting times for respective rides.In a variant of this example a user buys a read/writable ticket (or tag)containing credit units which can be used purchase rides. When the userpresents the ticket together with a RF-ID tag identifying a ride to thetag reader, it admits the user to the ride and simultaneously deducts acredit unit from the number stored in an over-the-air transaction.

In a third example, an access control system in an institution such asprison may be arranged that a security gate will only permit a prisoneror a small predetermined number of prisoners accompanied by a warder tobe allowed to pass. In this example the warder and each prisoner wears atransponder type of tag and as they pass a tag reader 14 the tags areread and the service request handler 16 determines whether or not thenumber of prisoners with the warder is within a permitted limit and ifso it sends a command “open gate” to a terminal, which may be cordless,causing the security gate to be opened. If there is no warder present orthe number of prisoners exceeds the permitted number then an “alert”signal is transmitted to the terminal which inhibits opening of thesecurity gate and activates an alarm.

In a fourth example applicable to say retail sales, a customer having anidentity B is buying a product A or several products A1, A2, . . . Anand the sale is made by sales assistant C. In this situation the salesassistant C submits a tag C bearing his/her identity to the tag reader,then the customer's tag, tag B, and a tag A identifying the product. Inresponse to the conjunction of these tags, a sale is made and optionallystock inventories are adjusted and/or a debit is made to the customer'saccount. In the case of several products A1, A2, . . . An beingpurchased, a similar process occurs but the product tags A1, A2 . . . Anare submitted in turn, whilst the details of tags B and C remain in thetag reader until the purchase has been completed and optionally stockinventories are adjusted and/or the customer's account has been debited.

In the case of a user having several tags (or cards) in his/herpossession, the tag reader 14 reads all of the readable tags and selectsthose tags of apparent interest and derives a command from them. As anexample a store X gives to holders of their Gold Card bonus points inrespect of their purchases from the store. The store's identity isprovided on the Gold Card and is known to the service request handler 16which is able to ignore information read from tags issued by otherstores. What is not ignored is the tag giving the identity of the userand perhaps also then user's cellular telephone number. Thus following apurchase in store X, the service request handler 16 is able to selectthe user's tag and the Gold Card from other cards which may be present,determine a command to update the total of bonus points, update thebonus points total and inform the user using the VDU 38 and/or bysending a message to the user's cellular telephone.

FIG. 4 shows an application of the interactive system to a focusedproduct promotion. In the interests of brevity it will be assumed thatthe tag reader 14 and the tags 10, 12 are of the same type as describedwith reference to FIG. 2. The information read from the tag 12 relatesto providing promotional material associated with a single brand name ofsportswear. As a result of interrogating the tags 10 and 12, the servicerequest handler 16 generates a signal requesting that the personidentified by the tag 10 be provided with promotional material relatingto the relevant sportswear. The generated signal is forwarded to anaction server 76. The action server 76 supplies a content supplier, whomay be a manufacturer or wholesaler, with a signal including the contactnumber of the person making the enquiry and the nature of their enquiry.The content supplier 78 in response to the receipt of the signalforwards the requested promotional material to the person's terminal 70by way of a cellular telephone, Bluetooth(RTM), Zigbee or IEEE 802.11network.

The operator of the action server 76 is remunerated by the contentsupplier 78 for forwarding the product enquiry to it. Additionally theaction server 76 may compile statistics on those tag readers and theirlocations through which product enquiries are made and sell thisinformation to the content supplier(s) 78. Such information may be usedby the content supplier 78 to promote its products in a way which ismore effective than another way. Also it is a relatively cheap way toget such information compared to conducting public opinion surveys.

Although the present invention has been described with reference toradio tags, the tags may be configured as swipe cards which are readusing a suitable card reader.

In the present specification and claims the word “a” or “an” precedingan element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of suchelements. Further, the word “comprising” does not exclude the presenceof other elements or steps than those listed.

From reading the present disclosure, other modifications will beapparent to persons skilled in the art. Such modifications may involveother features which are already known in the design, manufacture anduse of interactive systems and component parts therefor and which may beused instead of or in addition to features already described herein.Although claims have been formulated in this application to particularcombinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of thedisclosure of the present application also includes any novel feature orany novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly orimplicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates tothe same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or notit mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does thepresent invention. The applicants hereby give notice that new claims maybe formulated to such features and/or combinations of such featuresduring the prosecution of the present application or of any furtherapplication derived therefrom.

1. A method of operating an interactive system, comprising: obtaining,within a specified time period, first information from a first tag andsecond information from a second tag, the system operating independentof a spatial positioning of the first tag and the second tag; and usingthe first and second information to jointly determine a process to becarried out.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein informationabout a user is derived by reading a first tag, in that details of anaction are derived by reading a second tag, and in that the reading ofthe first and second tags is carried out within a specified time period.3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the specified timeperiod expires with the reading of the latter or last tag.
 4. A methodas claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first and second tags areprovided by different organisations.
 5. A method as claimed in any oneof claims 1 to 4, wherein information relating to the identity of a tagread is also used in determining the process to be carried out.
 6. Amethod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprisingderiving an output signal responsive to the process carried out andrelaying the output signal to a user by way of a RF link.
 7. A method asclaimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein information is obtainedfrom the first and second tags in a time window selected to associatetags belonging to one user and exclude tags from another user.
 8. Amethod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:authenticating the tag identities.
 9. A method as claimed in any one ofclaims 1 to 8, wherein the process is a service request which isforwarded by an action server to a client and the client remunerates theaction server for the service request(s) received.
 10. An interactivesystem comprising: a tag reader reading, within a specified time period,two or more tags, the system operating independent of a spatialpositioning of the tags; and a processor determining a process to becarried out, based on information read from at least two tags.
 11. Aninteractive systems, comprising: a tag reader reading at least a firsttag and a second tag, within a specified time period, the first tagcontaining first information and the second tag containing secondinformation, the system operating independent of a spatial positioningof the tags; and a processor using the first information and the secondinformation jointly to determine a process to be carried out.
 12. Asystem as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: an action serverresponsive to the determined process to generate an output signal, and aRF link for supplying the output signal to an output device.
 13. Asystem as claimed in claim 12, wherein the output device comprises acellular telephone terminal.
 14. A system as claimed in claim 11,wherein the tag reader has an authentication unit for authenticating thetag identities.
 15. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein at leastone of the first and second tags comprises a cellular telephoneidentification tag provided by a cellular telephone network operator orservice provider.
 16. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein theoutput device comprises a video display unit.
 17. A system as claimed inclaim 11, wherein the first and second tags are radio frequency tags andthe tag reader includes a communicator for communicating by radio withthe tags.
 18. A method, comprising: generating a service request inresponse to determining a process to be carried out, the processdetermined by information obtained from tags by an interactive systemwithin a specified time period, the system operating independent of aspatial positioning of the tags; forwarding the service request to aclient; and remunerating a supplier of the service requests on a basisof the service request(s) forwarded.
 19. A method as claimed in claim18, wherein the service request is generated in response to aconjunction of information derived from reading first and second tagswithin a specified time period.